The last few days have been crazy! I’m sorry I can’t respond to all of your comments, but I wanted to say thanks for all the support. Someone on Formspring wrote in that they thought I was brave for writing about the developmental delays, and that’s when Ir ealized how ridiculosu it is that someone should be considered “brave” for admitting something is wrong. Ewwww to all those who make it a trying experience for someone like me to admit their life isn’t Shiny Happy Hip. No wonder so many of the mommy bloggers never get into the hard stuff.

I wanted to post a reminder about the Hyde Park Cooking Club, because I’m holding the first meeting on Thursday night! Directions and meeting time can be found here. For the first one I’m going to show how I make a spinach shake, how easy kale chips are, and a carrot ginger soup that I made yesterday and absolutely loved. All you have to do is show up and you get to taste some of my favorite things to eat (kind of like Costco, except better for you). The blog has a link to the RSVP form which would be really helpful so I can determine portion sizes (remember I’m not feeding you a full meal, but I want to make sure everyone has a taste if they’d like!).

I also want to do some TWLC2 clarifying:

PICTURES ARE DUE ON SATURDAY. After that point I’m shutting down submissions and making no exceptions. Zero. Otherwise I get all lenient and nice and I feel like it’s only fair to pick a deadline and stick to it. You’ve had over a week to sign up and take pictures and I think that is enough time.

The cash prize for the cash pot winner (if I can collect all the money, which I plan to do before the challenge starts) will be just shy of $500. That is crazy awesome! If you haven’t pledged to put in your $10 yet, what’s holding you back? It’s so little to invest for such a big payoff if you win (you’ll be both thinner and richer, all for only $10 ). If you have already signed up for everything else and would not like to add in $10, just add the correct sentence as an additional comment.

If you would like to sign up DO NOT DO SO ON THIS POST. Please comment on the original TWLC2 post to do so.

I wanted to add a special TWLC2 Pregnancy Cash Prize category for those who are having babies during this round but would still like to have the motivation. To participate in the Google Doc and the private chat visit the original TWLC2 post to sign up with everyone else. To sign up for the post-partum cash prize category sign up using the exact phrase below.

I would like to enter $20 into the TWLC2 Pregnancy Category

I upped the price because I know there will be less of you, and more money means you’ll have more incentive to followw-through, and a bigger prize if you win. I don’t want to offer another portrait session for the pregnancy participants, but I did think of something. Anyone who pays $20 into the TWLC2 Pregnancy Category and loses more than 10% of their body weight will have no session fee with Jenna Cole AND be offered a discount on products equivalent to the percentage of weight lost*. So if you lose 10%, you get 10% off all products/images. If you lose 25%, you get 25% off! I know pregnancy weight loss is frustrating and I thought this might be a nice little nudge for you.

Per your comments, the winner will determined based on your starting weight at 4 weeks post-partum. Send me your scale+after pictures at that point, no matter what date it falls on during TWLC2, and then you’ll send me your after pictures in the beginning of April.

Make sense?

Edited To Add: I forgot I was going to clarify how this is going to work. Everything is due by the 15th (minus the pregnant lady info) and once I can get everything organized I’ll be sending out lots of emails. An email to those who want to join the Google Doc. An email for those who would like to participate in the bi-monthly chat. An email for those who I need to collect money from. I’m trying to get it all done quickly, but it’s a lot to manage. I’ll post on That Wife to let you know when all the emails have been sent out to make sure everyone who wanted to participate has received the appropriate information.

*Session is for individuals, couples, or immediate family only.